Protective cover for an input device

Abstract

In some embodiments, a cover for a mobile electronic device includes a rectangular housing with a sleeve formed in a front side of the housing, the sleeve operable to receive the mobile electronic device, and a slot formed in a top side of the housing and spanning at least a portion of a distance from a left side to a right side of the housing. The slot may receive and support the mobile electronic device in an upright configuration and at an angle relative to the housing. The housing may be comprised of a rigid material covered with a soft material including one of a neoprene, cloth, or polypropylene material. The slot may include a first ring insert surrounding an opening of the slot, and the sleeve may include a second ring insert surrounding the opening of the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective cover for a mobile electronic device, the protective cover comprising:
 a rectangular housing including:
 a top side; 
 a bottom side; 
 a front side; 
 a back side; 
 a left side; and 
 a right side, 
 wherein the front side and back side are longer than the left side and right side; 
 
 a sleeve formed in the front side of the housing, the sleeve configured to receive the mobile electronic device; and 
 a slot formed in the top side of the housing and spanning at least a portion of a distance from the left side to the right side of the housing, the slot configured to receive and support the mobile electronic device in an upright configuration and at an angle relative to the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the housing is comprised of a rigid material covered with a soft material including one of a neoprene, cloth, or polypropylene material. 
     
     
       3. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes a first ring insert forming an opening to the slot, and wherein the sleeve includes a second ring insert forming an opening to the sleeve. 
     
     
       4. The cover of  claim 3  wherein the first ring insert is contoured to support the mobile electronic device in the slot at the angle relative to the housing. 
     
     
       5. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes:
 a first section having a first width to support a first type of the mobile electronic device; and 
 a second section having a second width to support a second type of the mobile electronic device. 
 
     
     
       6. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes:
 a first section having a first width to support the mobile electronic device in an upright portrait configuration; and 
 a second section having a second width to support the mobile electronic device in an upright landscape configuration. 
 
     
     
       7. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes:
 a front portion of the slot closest to the front side of the housing, the front portion angled to support the mobile electronic device in a rear facing configuration toward the back side of the housing; and 
 a back portion of the slot that is closest to the back side of the housing, the back portion angled to support the mobile electronic device in a front facing configuration toward the front side of the housing, 
 wherein the front portion and the back portion having different angles. 
 
     
     
       8. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot contains multiple ridges therein to support the mobile electronic device at differing angles. 
     
     
       9. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot is over-molded with a rubberized compound to increase a friction between the slot and the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
       10. The cover of  claim 9  wherein the rubberized compound is a silicon-based rubber, and wherein the silicon-based rubber is co-molded on top of the housing formed of an extruded aluminum structure. 
     
     
       11. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot in contoured to support the mobile electronic device in both a 65-degree angle relative to a top surface of the top side of housing or a 72-degree angle relative to the top surface of the top side of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the slot includes interior walls, and wherein the interior walls are comprised of at least one of:
 a compressible material; 
 a series of rubber fins; or 
 a foam rubber, 
 wherein the interior walls provide support to the mobile electronic device. 
 
     
     
       13. The cover of  claim 1  further comprising a ribbon coupled to the sleeve, the ribbon configurable to assist in a removal of the mobile electronic device from the sleeve. 
     
     
       14. The cover of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a printed circuit board (PCB); 
 a processor coupled to the PCB; 
 a speaker coupled to the PCB, the speaker controlled by the processor; and 
 a set of controls disposed on the housing, the set of controls coupled to the PCB, the set of controls to control the speaker. 
 
     
     
       15. The cover of  claim 14  further comprising a cable coupled to the PCB to receive power from an external power source and provide the power to the PCB. 
     
     
       16. The cover of  claim 14  further comprising an energy storage device coupled to the PCB, the energy storage device to provide power to the PCB. 
     
     
       17. The cover of  claim 16  wherein the housing further comprises one or more accessories including at least one of:
 a keyboard integrated on a top surface of the top side of the housing; 
 a trackpad integrated on the top surface of the top side of the housing; or 
 a set of game controls integrated on the top surface of the top side of the housing, 
 wherein each of the one or more accessories are powered by the energy storage device. 
 
     
     
       18. A cover for a tablet computer comprising:
 a housing: 
 a sleeve forming an enclosure within the housing, the sleeve configured to receive and envelop the tablet computer; and 
 a slot formed in the housing to receive an edge of the tablet computer and support the tablet computer in an upright configuration. 
 
     
     
       19. The cover of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a processor disposed in the housing; and 
 a keyboard disposed on the housing, the keyboard controlled by the processor, and the cover communicatively coupled to the tablet computer when the tablet computer is in the slot. 
 
     
     
       20. The cover of  claim 19  further comprising an energy storage device to power the processor and the keyboard.